Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's good to hear that there are discussions happening. I would like to ask the Minister a more specific question in terms of what guidelines this government may look at in terms of having these services moved to the Northwest Territories. It's a crying shame that in today's day and age that is operating out of Ottawa, whereas the Government of the Northwest Territories is looking at becoming more administrative as a territory. I would like to ask the Minister of some timelines that we could possibly see some actions where these services would be transferred to the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Along with my friend, the honourable colleague from Tu Nedhe, I would like to also recognize the Pages from the Chief Albert Wright School in Tulita, Karen Iliopoulos and Brendyn Lennie, also Vital Manual, and the chaperone George Iliopoulos from Tulita. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand the cost of doing business in the Sahtu is expensive because we are isolated and we don’t have any roads up there going into the Sahtu. Everything is flown in and by summer it’s by boat and in the winter we have access to the winter road, but only for a short period of time. Would the Premier consider committing to some good discussions with the Sahtu leadership in terms of moving our region to a stand-alone region that will be fast tracked to the Sahtu leadership in terms of dealing with programs and services with the Government of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the honourable Minister. I applaud the government for taking an initiative like this to have bush camps out on the land, and run by aboriginal groups or communities. The Tl'oondih Healing Society and staff have made this a successful program. Can the Minister inform the House if a report is going to come out of his department in terms of other specifics we are going to ask about the Tl'oondih Healing Society and the Justice department program? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, the Honourable Brendan Bell.

Today the Sahtu leadership are meeting in Tulita to discuss, plan and work on the Sahtu Regional Access Team to negotiate a regional approach to land access agreements for the Mackenzie gas pipeline.

Can the Minister tell us what RWED is doing to assist the Sahtu communities:

in preparing community positions on impacts and benefits of the pipeline;

to complete community consultation to ensure public support for the regional plan adopted by...

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister. The bottom line is at the end of the day when the dust settles, they want to know what can happen this year in terms of the dust. It’s very high. So I guess I am seeking some commitment from the Minister and his department to come into the community and talk to council and say we have some interim solutions, let’s work it out. Can the Minister give that commitment to me today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now that the dust has settled in Tulita with health concerns with regard to elders, I have questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Honourable Henry Zoe, with the chipsealing program scheduled for the communities. In 2007-08, the community is going to see some action in terms of the dust. Can I get a commitment from the Minister to work with the hamlet council to find an interim solution to the dust problems in Tulita while the community waits for the chipsealing program? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, summer is here at last. The summer brings many enjoyable things: warmer weather, longer days, summer holidays, time out on the land with the family. Unfortunately, the summer season also has a downside: terrible dust in the Sahtu communities. It is not the first time that this problem in the communities has been raised in the House.

It was a real concern for some of the Members during the 14th Assembly, and for good reason. Dust is a serious health concern. No one is immune to the negative effects of breathing dust. Mr. Speaker, the elders in our...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Minister. The issue I have here goes back to the federal government in terms of their revenue resource sharing, the money they take out of the Northwest Territories. It seems that we, as residents of the Northwest Territories, always pay for it. We know that doing business in the North, the cost is extremely high in isolated communities such as my region. Even to attract good workers, you have to do extra initiatives to hold positions of workers in our communities. Also the programs that are dear to people’s hearts are sometimes being called into...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister. The bridge, I understand, without having the information in front of me, is fairly new. Again, I have had enquiries about the bridge and why this has happened. Would he consider that those that are made from this type of model or the type of design that is in other communities, it may have been caused by just the erosion of the banks that are situated in Fort Good Hope? Would the Minister inform or advise us that he would look at other bridges of similar design that maybe have some similar incidences in other communities? Thank you, Mr...